Expressman&#39;s truck.



No. 8551835. PATENTED JUNE 4, 1907. L F.- W. CLAYTON.

EXPRESSMANS TRUCK. APPLIOA'HON FILED DEO.31,1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N M I WITNESSES: v INVENTUR:

' j rz/arzk%% 674172 BY v 1n: NORRIS PETERS cm. WASHINGTON. n. c.

No. 855,835. PATENTED JUNE 4, 1907.

P. W. CLAYTON.

EXPRESSMANS TRUCK.

7 APPLICATION FILED DEO.31,1906.

3 sums-sum 2.

WI TNESSES:

IN VENTOR! rn: NBRRIS PETERS ca, WASHINGTON, n. c.

No. 855,835. PATENTED JUNE 4 1907.

' P. w. CLAYTON;

EXPRESSMANS TRUCK.

APPLIOATION FILED DEG. 31.1906

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 IN VENTOR.

THE namus Psrsns co, WASHINGTON 1: c4

UTED STATES PATENT onnion.

FREDERICK W. CLAYTON, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- THIRD TO ENOOH E. ROGERS AND ONE-THIRD TO ALBERT N. SIMS, OF

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

EXPRESSIVIANS TRUCK- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4', 1907.

finalisation filed December 31, 1906. Serial No. 350,298.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK WV. CLAY- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Jose, in the county of Santa Clara and State of California, have invented new and usefulImprovementsinExpressmensTrucks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device which is especially designed for the securing and adjusting of boxes and packages for removal from place to place.

It consists in the combination of parts, and in details of construction which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view and partial section of my device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the platform in a low position. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing one pair of bearing wheels so disposed in dotted lines as to balance and turn the load. Fig. 4 shows the platform in an elevated position. Fig. 5 is an end view of the device. Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken through the vertical end.

Fig. 7 is a latch detail. Fig. 8 is a view showing the parts in position to be folded and packed into small space. Fig. 9 shows both sets of wheels mounted to operate in a similar manner.

It is the object of my invention to provide a convenient device for moving heavy articles, such as pianos and the like, to which the device is particularly shown as adapted.

A is a sufficiently heavy platform having a length and breadth sufficient for the purposes for which it is to be used. This platform has the sides channeled or slotted and through the slot or channel 2 extends a bolt 3 having a head upon one end, and a thumb-nut 4 upon the other. Bars 5 each have one end pivoted upon this bolt, and the other ends connect with the axle of wheels 6, and also with a second bar 7 the junction of the two bars 5 and 7 forming the bearing for the wheel axis. The opposite end ofthe bar 7 is pivoted as shown at 8.

9 is a slotted plate, the channel or slot of which coincides with the slot 2 of the plat form A, and these slotted plates upon each side, may be moved with relation to the platform A and the slot 2, so that the wheel 6 may be brought to a point near the center of the platform, and when so disposed, any

weight upon the platform may be approximately balanced so that the platform and its load may be turned around to travel in any direction, such position being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

The slidability of the bar or shaft 3 allows the angular wheel-carrying arms 5 and 7 to be approached toward each other so that the portion of the platform supported by them will be elevated to a considerable distance. These arms may be extended as shown in Fig. 2- so that the platform will be supported very close to the floor.

By sliding the bars 5 and 7 to the extreme rear end of the slotted plate 9, and moving the plate to the rear, the wheels 6 may be passed over the rear end of the platform, and raised sufliciently to allow this portion of the platform to rest upon the floor or surface, as in Fig. 3. The opposite end of the platform is in like manner supported upon rollers 6 the shaft of which extends through vertically slidable bars 10, and angle arms. 11 extend from the axle of the wheels to the sides of the platform where they are bent inwardly and are slidable in slots 12. This slidability of the ends of the arms, allows the wheels 6 to be moved so as to support the platform substantially level, or at any other angle with relation to the wheels 6.

The position of the Wheels 6 and their supporting bars is maintained by means of arms 13 having their contiguous ends pivoted to a vertically slidable bar 1 1, and their outer ends carrying bolts 15 which are slidable transversely through sleeves 16 and so as to en age with holes or notches in the vertically sli able rods 10, which rods are guided within the sleeves 16.

The bar 14 with which the divergent rods 13 are connected has a handle or loop 17 at the upper end, by which it may be drawn up to disengage the bolts 15, and thus allow the platform to be raised or depressed with rela tion to the floor surface, and when the latches or bolts are again engaged, the relative position of the platform to the wheel 6 will be maintained.

It will thus be seen that either end of the platform may be raised or depressed independently of the other, and the platform maintained at a level, or at any angle within the movement of the wheel supports to suit the character of the load, or the Conditions under which it is to be moved.

If it is desirable to move a load down a stairs, the wheels may be turned upwardly as shown in Fig. 3, so that the platform will test and slide upon the stairs making it easy to move.

For the purpose of going upstairs, it may be preferable to raise one end of the platform by means of the wheel-supporting links, and leave the other one comparatively low.

As stairs of different tread and rise are to be found, it is more convenient to dispose the two pairs of wheels in such a way that for instance, one pair of the wheels may rest upon the front edge of the stairs; then when the other end of the truck is raised so that its -wheels may rest upon the next stair, the device may be advanced sufliciently for this purpose. Then the rear end being again lifted to the level of the next stair, the front wheels will in the same manner advance along the stair upon which they rest, until the rear wheels again rest upon the next stair. In this manner a heavy load may be moved upstairs by easy stages, and without too great an exertion.

In order to hold the arms 11 against sliding in the slot 12, I have shown a latch-plate 18 slidable lengthwise of the platform, prefer ably Within a slot or channel near the end supported by the wheels 6. This plate is connected with the inturned ends of the arms 11, and is slidable in unison with the move ments of these arms so that when the platform has been raised as shown in Fig. 4, the sliding forward of the arms 11 in the slot, will also move the plate 18 forward, and the lower end of the vertically slidable bar 14, is so fitted as to enter a slot in the end of this bar 18, and thus lock it in position.

The vertical end portion A of the device is pivoted at what I have called the front end of the device, as shown at 20, and the angle plates upon each side have slots made in them as at 21, within which the pivot pins are slidable, in order to allow this end plate to be folded down when it is desired to pack the apparatus into small compass, as shown in Fig. 8. In this position the arms 5 and 7 will be turned so that the wheel 6 will be carried over on top of the platform A; the part A will be folded down upon the top of the platform, and the wheel 6 will be carried up so that the whole device will be packed into small space.

Whenthe part A stands in a vertical position, it is locked by bolts 22 having operating handles or knobs 23, said bolts being slidable with relation to this part A, and entering holes in the vertical side bars 16.

Suitable cushions 24. have latching keys 25 upon their under surfaces, and these latches enter slots in the surface of the platform to retain the cushions in the desired position.

The vertical portion A is in like manner provided with cushions as at 24, so that a piano or other polished article may be placed upon the truck or carriage and secured thereto without danger of marring the varnish.

In order to secure the article upon the platform, I have shown metal loops 26 having tongues adapted to removably engage with slots or channels in the side of the platform, and to these links may be fixed the straps 27 so as to pass around the article upon the platform.

It will be understood that as many of these strap attachments may be employed as found desirable, and they are connected with both parts A and A so that the straps may go around the article" in each direction, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

I/Vhere it is desirable to turn the piano or other article in small space, the device is turned upon end, and the end plate A has upon its upper or outer end freely turnable casters 28, so that when thus upturned, the weight will be supported upon the wheel 6", and the casters 28 thus occupying the smallest possible floor space, allows the device to be readily turned in any direction.

By means of suitable handles 29 the device may be readily manipulated and moved and turned into any desired positions.

It will be understood that for certain work, the wheels 6 may be mounted in a manner similar to that shown at 6, without altering the character of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a movable truck, a platform having a horizontal longitudinal slot made therethrough, plates slidably fitting upon each side of the platform having slots registering with that of the platform, arms pivoted together, and bearing-wheels journaled atthe junction of said arms, one pair of said arms being fulcrumed to the ends of the slotted plates, the other pair having a rod and lock ing device passing through the slots of the plates and platform, whereby the lates and the wheels may be moved from t e end toward the center of the platform, and the latter raised. and locked with relation to the surface upon which the wheels travel.

2. In a traveling truck, a platform having a horizontal passage there-through near one end, slotted plates slidably mounted on the sides of the platform and, registering with the edges of the platform and the open space, toggle-j ointed arms, one pair of which are pivoted to the plate, and the other pivoted to a rod extending through the slot in the plate and the open space of the platform, said rod being slidable to change the angle of the toggle levers, wheels journaled at the angle of said levers, movable arms connected with the opposite end of the platfrom, and capable of extension to raise and lower said end, and wheels journaled at the junction of said arms.

3. In a wheeled truck, a platform, toggle jointed levers, wheels journaled at the meeting angle of said levers, slotted plates, said plates being slidably mounted on the sides of the platform, to one end of which plates one pair of the levers is pivoted, a rod extending through the slot in the plates and connecting the other pair of levers, a corresponding slot made in the platfrom, with which the slotted plate registers, and within which it is slidable, means for extending or contracting the toggle levers to raise and lower the platform upon the wheels, and to move said levers nearer to or farther from the center, and means for locking the wheels and plates in position.

4. In a wheeled truck, a horizontal platform, an adjustable wheeled support for one end of the platform, an extension hinged to the opposite end of the first named platform, means for locking said extension at right angles, arms having one end slidable and pivotally connected with the platform, wheels journaled at the opposite ends of said arms, a vertically slidable rod connected with each end of the wheel shaft and slidable in guides disposed vertically on the side edges of the second extension, means for locking said arms to adjustably support this end of the platform upon its wheels.

5. In a wheeled truck, a bearer composed of hingedfoldable sections with looking bolts, pivoted angular bars slidably connected with said sections, wheels journaled at the contiguous pivoted ends of the bars whereby they may be independently adjusted with relation to the bearer, and links for the attachment of straps, said links detachably interlocking with the bearer.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- I16SS8S.

FREDERICK W. CLAYTON. Witnesses E. E. RoGERs, N. E. WRETMAN. 

